Ford has announced several technological developments at this week's Computex conference in Taiwan, aimed at keeping tech-savvy drivers happy.

The Ford SYNC AppLink program has been upgraded to AppLink 2.0, and the Ford Developer Program has been extended into the Asia-Pacific and African markets.

Drivers can expect to see better communication between smartphone apps and AppLink-equipped Ford cars along with integrated voice-control for smartphone apps.

The Kaliki audio-news app and the popular TuneIn Radio and Pandora apps will be the first three apps offered in the region.

Plus there will even be an “AppLink Catalogue app” to help Ford owners find apps that are AppLink enabled.

The AppLink 2.0 program will be able to provide developers with data from vehicle sensors (with customer consent) and developers will be able to send “push” notifications to drivers directly via the on-board display screens.

TMR spoke with Neil McDonald from Ford Australia, who said that it was too early to tell when we could expect to see the technology rolled out in Australia.

“It’s too early to determine what we will be getting here,” Mr McDonald said. “We expect to see AppLink 2.0 within 12 months, but it is too early to tell which models it will be available in.”

“We will be looking at the availability of the first three apps as well.”

Stay tuned to TMR for more news about in-car infotainment and confirmation for Ford AppLink 2.0 in Australia.